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In the Divine Image

Moshe Unger - Columnist
Posted 6/18/20

In the last few weeks, we've all been discussing the racial problems that's plaguing our society and the pain that the Black community is going through. I'd like to offer a few remarks that readers …

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In the Divine Image

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In the last few weeks, we've all been discussing the racial problems that's plaguing our society and the pain that the Black community is going through. I'd like to offer a few remarks that readers might find interesting.

One of the most important differences of democracies and authoritarian regimes, is in the place where the fate of an individual lies. In authoritarian regimes the government can kill a citizen at the decision of a few and, many times, without any wrongdoing. Today, in the Western countries, to charge someone in the justice system takes time. Also, there are many checks and balances, in order to ensure that the verdict of an indicted person should not be dependent on just a few people.

However, the only place in a democracy where an individual is dependent on the choice of just one individual is when someone is in the hands of police officers. They can kill without any verdict or tribunal. Of course, if they kill without claiming self-defense they can be charged, but who is there to make the judgement? No one.

That's why even without hearing all the horror stories, we need to keep a close watch on police conduct and to train them well. How much more so when we all know what's happening in real time.

To be sure, the wisest of all men - King Solomon, has already said in Ecclesiastes ch. 3, “in the place of justice, there is wickedness”. The justice system needs a lot of reform, but still it doesn't come close to the powers that lies in the hands of a police officer driving down the road.

I saw some ideas of police reform which says that police should be trained to focus on the “de-escalation” of the situation they respond to. When I read that I was baffled, “Shouldn't that have been the obvious goal of police?” Police should only be focused on de-escalation and restoring civil conduct. If they are focused on “controlling” a situation, we are in big trouble.

On a different note, I see great Divine Providence in the killing of George Floyd happening right after the Pandemic. The fact that we are all still shaken by the pandemic and then we saw such a horrible story, created this mass outcry of protest like we've never seen in history.

Also, locally, it's so sad that Stefon McGinnis, the Monticello DPW employee, endured racist name-calling at work. When a boss is racist, it is one of the worst situations. No American should be in a situation of enduring racism in order to retain a livelihood. The story came out in great timing so that the resignation was swift - at least quite swift.

Right before writing this article, I heard an audiobook “Blink” from Malcolm Gladwell. He told of a study done on Black students who were given trivia questions. Half of the students were asked in the first question to identify their skin color and half were not asked to do so. The ones who were asked, did 50% less than the ones who were not asked. The study shows the unconscious associations that, unfortunately, many Black Americans have to deal with to succeed.

We have lots to work on, but we are all one people united in one country and united in the goal to be united. Only when Black lives matter, will all lives also truly matter. Only when all of us count, will every one of us count. If some of us are treated differently, that means we are yet to appreciate the true value of every human being created in the image of G-d.

Comments? Email me: moshe@jaketv.tv

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